In a feat of human endurance that has become a landmark case in sleep science, a 17-year-old high school student who stayed awake for 11 days straight not only set a world record but also provided invaluable insights into the effects of sleep deprivation on the human mind. The student, Randy Gardner, has since become a cautionary tale about the dangers of pushing the body to its absolute limit.

In December 1963, as part of a high school science fair project, Gardner embarked on a challenge to break the previous record of 260 hours without sleep. With two friends monitoring his condition, and later, a Stanford sleep researcher named Dr. William Dement, Gardner went on to stay awake for an astonishing 264.4 hours (11 days and 25 minutes).

By the third day, the effects of sleep deprivation began to set in. Gardner experienced mood swings, concentration problems, and short-term memory loss. By the fourth day, he was reportedly experiencing hallucinations, and by the eleventh day, he was unable to complete simple cognitive tests. When asked to subtract seven from 100, he stopped at 65, explaining that he had forgotten what he was doing.

After completing his record, Gardner immediately went to sleep. Researchers documented that he slept for nearly 15 hours straight. Surprisingly, he appeared to make a full recovery, and early reports suggested there were no long-term health effects.

However, decades later, Gardner revealed that his teenage stunt had a lasting impact. He suffered from severe and chronic insomnia for years, a condition he directly links to his record-breaking attempt.

Due to the significant health risks associated with sleep deprivation, Guinness World Records ceased monitoring this category in 1997. The record is now held by Robert McDonald, who went 18 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes without sleep in 1986. While these records stand as a testament to incredible willpower, Gardner’s story remains a powerful reminder that some achievements come at a very high price.